Bad Touch/Karma Effect/Electric Black -
Cambridge Junction 2 - 29th March & Norwich Waterfront, 5th April 2024
A Double dose of ROCK! Which is a nice touch!
Dereham’s finest and Norfolk’s best are ready to ROCK the Junction 2, Cambridge. Junction 2 is a new venue for me; it may be smaller than the main venue, however the stage and acoustics are really good. I was pleased to discover there were to be no photo restrictions, access all areas so I should get some amazing shots. Anyway, this evening was to prove to be a night of highs and lows, but first we have Electric Black to kick things off.
This 4-piece from Hitchin get the evening off to a tremendous start playing songs from their excellent ‘Late Night Lightning’ release. I was unaware of this group prior to the gig but by the end of their opening slot I am very impressed. You have to start with the scintillating guitar work of Johnny Bryant, who blends his six-string wizardry with vocalist Ali Shiach’s outstanding delivery. Ali’s short hair being somewhat reminiscent of Graham Bonett and his arms filled with tattoos.
Their excellent sound is all made possible by powerhouse drummer Matt Butler and the thunderous bass lines of Ryan Trotman, together they combine to produce a monumental sound that is anthemic and captivating. Electric Black are more than contenders, they are the real deal. I mention they are the real deal as we witness Johnny Bryant is using a bottle of Jack Daniels to create a bit of slide, suddenly the bottle breaks and shatters over the stage. How’s that for rock and roll! They continue to play while the glass is cleared up around them! If you get the chance check them out. Do.
After the openers another new band for me take to the stage in the shape of London based Karma Effect, and wow! They blow the roof off with their Dirty Honey brand of ROCK! Their Hard Rock is a force of nature that starts from the back with the groove and rhythm coming from the drums of Ash Powell accompanied by the bass of Liam Quinn. Lead guitarist Robbie Blake has the moves, the swagger, that enigmatic quality that draws you in to his six-string mastery.
Then you have the frontman Henry Gottelier, he oozes star quality drawing the Dirty Honey comparison, is flamboyant with a voice that hints at Steve Tyler. The added dynamic comes from the keyboard fills from Seb Emmins who gives the sound that added sparkle. Up to this point in the show things are on a high with both bands posing and playing to my camera, but I was about to have a big low! Something is wrong with my shots so I retreat to the foyer to resolve these issues.
Here I get talking to Ryan Trotman, Electric Black bass player. Realising my issues he suggests I come along to the Norwich gig the following week. With some further communication this comes to fruition for me. Back inside the hall and Gottelier has dispensed with his hat, hair tumbling down, looking the part. Blake is still posing, throwing electrifying shapes.
It’s coming to the last number and Gottelier tries to elicit some audience participation, slightly testing due to the low numbers in attendance, however perseverance gets us there in the end with Gottelier telling us this is their last number, a song called ‘Testify’ “I need you to sing one word, that word is tes- ti- fy can you do it for me?” We did! Karma Effect were superb. I told them so when I spoke with them after their set and this is when they informed me I would be on their guest list at the Norwich gig. Yes!
Now it is time for Bad Touch whom I have always found to be brilliant so I am filled with expectation. However, I have never seen them play to such a small crowd, a venue less than a third full. For the duration they play and ROCK the venue in their charismatic style, at times to little reaction, but Stevie Westwood uses all of his front man charms and personality to provoke a response.
With him dressed in black, sparkly shoes, magnificent mane of hair and large hat, the whole band are on fire, but the crowd are extinguished! The last 3 songs build an atmosphere with Stevie, now hatless, playing unaccompanied on acoustic guitar, really baring his soul, it’s amazing.
Half way through the rest of the band join in and finally the venue is alive. ‘Ninety Nine Percent’ closes the night’s proceedings which end on a high and I look forward to the Norwich Waterfront being 99% sure there will be a great home town welcome.
Now to sort my camera issues ready for a second chance…
On arrival at the Waterfront, it is clear that the audience is going to be bigger and more enthusiastic. It is also clear that my photo opportunities will be limited due to the 3-song rule. Let’s hope I make the most of it and the bands give me the chance to capture what I missed at the Junction.
Electric Black are immediately in their stride. Ryan Trotman’s bass prominent and as promised he poses plenty of times for my camera, as does Johnny Bryant and Ali Shiach. The atmosphere is great with my camera issues fully resolved.
It might be an early start (doors open at 18.30) but Electric Black light the fuse with some high voltage ROCK! It gets a great response though this time there is no Jack Daniels bottle in sight! Now I am familiar with the songs I am even more impressed by their music. What a start to the night!
There is barely 15 minutes gap when Karma Effect take to the stage (thanks to the 22.00 curfew) and they immediately raise the bar with an exhilarating performance. Each song receives great applause with both Gottelier and Blake exuding star quality throughout their performance. ‘All Night’ starts us off and by ‘Living Up’ we are all pumped and jumping then ‘Testify’ gets us all singing.
The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed shows the enormous potential of this group. If there is karma then I feel sure they have a great career ahead and will soon be headlining venues themselves. Well, that’s the effect they have on me, they could be heading for the promised land!
The venue is now pretty full and so it should be for the homecoming of local Dereham band BAD TOUCH. They’re a ‘beautiful’ bunch! The recent departure of founder member, drummer George Drewry, sees former Piston man, Brad Newlands take the sticks. He provides a different kind of visual point and maybe hits the drums harder, but judging by the two performances I have seen it is business as usual.
As Stevie Westwood takes to the stage resplendent in his gold suit, he is obviously in no mood to take prisoners. Our enigmatic frontman is clearly here to ROCK! Having appeared slightly subdued at Cambridge his exuding energy makes it clear and certain that tonight we are going to party.
Opener ‘Lift Your Head’ kicks in with energy and power, so much so that by the second song we are all in the mood to ‘Strut’! With Westwood ‘Dressed To Kill’ it is going to be one hell of a night! The difference between Cambridge and here is stark, you have to ‘See It To Believe It’. All members significantly up their performance as their infectious brand of blues pour from the speakers.
Encore time and Westwood takes to the stage alone, acoustic in hand. He reminds us of Covid, a time when we could do nothing, not even hug our mothers. Lockdown was awful, he tells us we need to do whatever it takes to make us sleep at night. He tells us that if we want to smoke, have a beer with our mates, just do it because there’s ‘Nothing Wrong With That’.
Now sing Norwich! And sing we f*ck*ng do! This leads us perfectly to the closing song and judging by the blonde-haired beauty next to me I am 99% sure we all loved it! Five albums in to their career Bad Touch are a joyous experience of blues, rock and soul, if you haven’t seen them yet get some tickets and treat yourself as you really need to ‘Taste This’.
By Paul Mace